Aethue von keause and mathias kuhnen



' UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE,

ARTHUE VON KRAUSE AND MATHIAS KUHNEN, OF BLAUVELTVILLE, NEW YORK.

ICE-HOUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,'790, datedFebruary 14, 1882.

Application 'filed November 4, 1881.

To all 'whom z't may con'cew Be it known that we, ARTHUR VON KRAUSE andMATHIAS KUHNEN, of Blauveltville, Rockland county, New York, haveinvented a new andlmproved Ice-House, of which the following is a clear,full, and exact description.

The object of our invention is to facilitate freezing large blocks ofice without the use ot artificially-cooled air, andiin the house inwhich the ice is to be stored.

The invention consists in an ice-house constructed with a fiat tank,either fixed or vertically adj usted, and provided with a series offunnelsfrom which wires or equivalents extend down to the bottom of theice-chamber, down which wires the waterflows and freezes, graduallyformiug a solid block ot' ice in the icechamber. After a few days thewires become loosened and are withdrawn. A circulation of cool andrarefied air is maintained in the ice-chamber.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,`forning part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a cross-sectioal elevation of our improved ice-house, andFig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of a modification ot' the same.

The ice-house A is constructed with a flat water-tank, B, of wood ormetal, in its upper part, and this tank is provided with a series ofslender downwardly-projecting funnels, C, the centers of which areseparated from eight to ten or twelve inches transversely andlongitudinally. The lower ends of these i'unnels G fit in apertures in ahorizontal partition, D, arranged a short distance below the bottom ot'the tank B and forming the top of the icechamber E. From each funnel G awire or equivalent, F, extends down to the bottom G of the ice-chamberE, these wires being suitably supported in the funnels, but not fastenedon the bottom of the icc-chamber. A series of wires, F, arranged inlongitudinal and transverse rows, will thus cross the ice-clambervertically.

A water-pipo, H, provided with a cock, J, conveys the water from asuitable tank or pum p to the tank B.

The ice-house A is constructed with outer side walls, K, and inner sidewalls, L, an air- (No model.)

cation with a suction-fan, P, or .some other i device for drawing offthe air.

If desired, the ice-chanber E may be provided with a series ofpartitions, Q, provided with apertures R.

The entire device may be arrangcd in a pit underground, as shown in Fig.2, the coustruction otherwise remaining the same.

If desired, the tank B, the funnels C, and the horizontal partition Dmay be made vertically adjustable, either by means of screws or ropesand pulleys.

` The building may be made ot' wood, stone, or metal.

The space between the tank B, the funnels C, and the horizontalpartition D is preferably filled with some non-conductor of heat--suchas sawdust, &0.-to prevent the freezin g of the water in the funnels.

The operation is as follows.: If the fan or other device P is operated,it will draw all the air out of the ice-chamber E, and fresh cool airwill enter into the same through the aperturcs O and M, the aircirculating through the ice chamber, as indicated by the arrows. Wateris admitted into the tank B through the pipe H, and this water will flowthrough the funnels C and down the wires F, only suflicient water beingadmitted into the tank B to cause the water to flow down the wires F ina very thin layer. The cold air circulating through the ice-chambercauses the thin layer of water on the wires to congeal, and as the airin the ice-chamber E is more or less rarefied, the congealin g processis facilitated. The layer of ice on the wires gradually thickeus andgradually fills up the space between the wires, and a block of ice isformed. After a few days the heat passing down the wires causes them tobe loosened and they are withdrawn, and the apertures or channels theyformed will freeze up. A solid block of ice eight feet square and xooCare must be taken not to allow the flow of water to become' so copionsthat water will collect on the bottom of the ice-chamber.

If the partitions Q are pro vided, several blocks will be formed, whichcan' be moved successively. If the tank B is made vertically adjustable,a block or bloeks of ice of a certain thiokmess can-be formed. The tankcan be raised and another block can be formed on the first, and in thismanner the thiokness ot' the block can be gradually inereased Thelongitudinal apertnres Originally made by the wires F greatlyfaoilitatecntting the large block into smaller cnbes or blocks.

We are aware that iee has been naturally as well as artificially formedin snoeessive layers by tricklin g in a thin stream over a twig, pole,rope, orcord; also, that it has been made to flow from a tankover smallpendent tubes into' which steam or hot water is injeoted to loosen theformen" ice therefron. Our object is to avoid this by guididg the waterin funnels, so that it will triokle and be formedinto ice around pendentwires, which may be readily drawn out in a few days, leaving the icesolid and unaft'eeted by any application of heat, as well as saving agreat deal ot' time, labor, andex- ARTHUR VON KRAUSE. MATHIAS KUHNEN.

Witnesses OSCAR F. GUNZL G. SEDGWOK.

